December Letters

Friday
1 December 1950
Wonsan, Koera
113

Dear Jane,

Today was a big day. This morning I flew up to Yudam-ni and got a direct hit with a “Daisy Cutter” (500# bomb with a more extension) The forward air controller was very happy. The chinks were trying like hell to get to the top of a hill next to Yudam-ni. The little bomb fell right in the center of of about 50 of them clustered about 2 of our abandoned tents. This is the best hit I’ve gotten so far. On others you never know the results directly.

Next I packed and flew to Yonpo — near Hamhung. We are at another field which is pretty good. When I got here I felt sick as hell and now I feel like I’m dying. I’ve got a cold and fever. There are about thirty of us all joined together in this room. Do I feel terrible. Believe me I would write more but I’m hitting the sack — it is on 6 PM.

This field is better than Wonsan and much more defensible. We are doing ok.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 102

Friday
December 1, 1950

Dear Little Baby Bugs,

Boy, oh boy, has it ever turned cold here all of a sudden! Really feels like winter for the first time this year. No letter from my rabbit today, but they seem to come about every 3 days now. I am enclosing the note I received from Wendell today. I wrote him after you left & thanked him again for the Jeepster. I imagine from the letter he thought he was going to Wonsan. Have you seen him yet?

I also got a letter from Edie giving me all the pertinent poop on the “activities” at Christmastime. Sounds like there ought to be plenty going on at least. Ken is liaison between the base & the town for a Sun Carnival they’re having in El Paso during the holidays. Edie told me there would be a coronation ball & New Year’s Eve ball, but of course, honestly all will be quite dull without my little bunny wiggle.

This afternoon Clarence came back after having been gone a week to a meeting in Pennsylvania. Needless to say we were busy like bird-dogs.

After work I had a permanent as my hair was getting awfully straight. After the permanent I stopped at that Rink’s barbecued hamburger place next to the L’omelette’s. I couldn’t resist the onions so needless to say I reek to high heaven. After I fed the kids I went over to Ceilie’s & Kirk’s & got Ceilie to pin a hem for me on the black jersey dress I got in October which I’ve never gotten around to fixing.

Tomorrow Grace & I are going to the City & meet her mother for lunch. At first I was going to drive but after both of us have heard repeated stories about the terrible traffic have decided to take the train.

Gosh baby bunny Friday & Saturday nights are the worst of all without you, & somehow Friday night seems worst of all. We used to always have a real nice old relaxed night on Friday but now it’s just completely blah. I can hardly wait until the day you & Jr. come home & surprise me & you Know who. Boy oh boy, won’t we be happy kids though? All we do is live for that day. You know how much I love you & how much I think about you — you’re all I have.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Saturday
2 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
114

Dear Jane,

Baby have I been sick today. I have the damdest cold I’ve every had. I ache all over. I couldn’t get out of bed to go to Sick Bay until 1500 but about noon an air force layman came in and took my temperature. It was 101. About 1500 I got over to sick Bay and got some pills — I hardly knew I had taken them for all the good they seemed to do. Right now I still feel lousy. I’ve been lying in bed all day sleeping most of the time. I think I’ll roll over and try to sleep the night out.

By the way I received a letter from Uncle Mark [McCall] all and a Xmas card from your mom. Very nice. My parents are having thanksgiving with them. Also, since there is no place yet to mail these letters I’m just holding on to them until the PO is set up. I have quite a fever.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
M

Alas, the wind has blown this letter away. :(

Sunday
3 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
115

Dear Jane,

Today I feel a little better. No mail from you however. I am begining to wonder if you write any more and if not why not.

I received a letter from Dad today. He is all for you. How do you manage to get people to like you so easily and if you can do that how did you stay single just long enough to meet me? I’ve had so few letters from you that inside I’m begining to worry. I just can’t help it.

Damn this cold anyway. I can’t seem to shake it. I felt lousy all day but not as bad as yesterday. I did nothing but stay in the sack and go to evening meal.

By the way, I had my first coke in about 7 weeks. The Air Force which is leaving travels in luxury. They had a PX and when they leave that will be the end of a PX

Also, I moved from downstairs with 30 roommates to upstairs with 12 roommates. We have a large room. It is fairly warm.

Inspite of no letters I say as I have said before you are my one and only. It would hurt terrible to have anything happen to our marriage. I’ve been true blue and will always do unto others as they do unto me. I love you more than words can express. What ever it is I’ve got it bad for you. Jr and I are just waiting to get home. Rumor keeps having it that we will have only a 6 mo tour of duty. That means I might be home around Feb or March. But that is only rumor and we all want to believe that. But you can go ahead and go to El Paso or LA as your little heart desires. Also, I’m sorry I wrote such harsh words when you asked me what you should do. I know you are trying to do what would make me feel best and all I did was write snotty letters back to you. I have been kicking myself in the fanny ever since for having such a poor head on my shoulders. I know I’ll receive letters of complaint about that from you and they will be justified, believe me. When I think of how sweet and nice your are and how rotty I can get it makes me sicker than I am now with this cold.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

Perhaps the rain has taken this one.

Monday
4 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
116

Dear Jane,

No mail at all today. Sometimes I begin to wonder about that. It is getting too regular. No one else seems to be missing any letters at all — only Mert. Strange thing! Yet I still think it can’t be you. It must be the P.O.

My cold is much better but last night when I was reaching for the vicks I grabbed my razor and cut a big slice in my thumb. This all happened about 4 AM. Some fun with blood dripping all over the place. Why do these odd thing’s always happen to me. I may fly tomorrow.

We are upstairs now and two stoves are going full blast. It is not hot but it is not cold. We are on the north side of the building. The old wind is howling outside now.

Yesterday at the Air Force PX I bought a case of cokes and now that I’ve had three the desire is gone. You know I don’t drink hardly at all any more. Once in a while I have a Can of beer but whiskey seems revolting. Can it be that I will end this war with being a teetotler?

We are settled pretty well now. It is a good base. We are pretty secure here. At least the mountains aren’t right next to us. The reds will have a hard time moving over the open plains to reach this place. It is much easier to defend.

Despite of no news from you I still believe you love me as I love you and you trust me as I trust you. One thing this police action has proven is that I love in the worst way and want you as all mine forever and ever. I just pray the rumor about the 6 mo tour is true because this kid is ready to jump. right in the sack beside you and stay there as long as possible. Rumors are poor things to base plans on however.

I just don’t know what to do about an Xmas present for you. I’m going to waite until I get to Japan whenever that is.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

PS. Have you seen Maj Baesler?

No. 105

Monday
December 4, 1950

Dear Little Baby,

I can only start this letter tonight because pretty soon my eyes will become so blurred that I won’t be able to see what I’m writing because today I went to the oculist at the P.A. Clinic & they put drops in my eyes to dilate the pupils & my eyes still blur when I look at close things & they ache too. God, I nearly died of frustration when I got home because there were 4 letters from you — Nos. 105, 106 & 109 & 110 & I could barely get thru one before I could no longer see — then I’d wait about 1/2 hour & read again for a few minutes. Well — finally I finished. There was also a letter from Anne Carlson & Uncle Mark McCall. I nearly died laughing at your No. 110 because you were answering my “hot” missile — No 81. You really gave me the old one-two that I needed, but I nearly split laughing at it. Can barely see so will have to stop until tomorrow.

Tuesday

Can see again so will continue. God, do you know I have come to the conclusion that if you didn’t have MONEY to talk about, you would be absolutely DEVOID of either writing material or conversation! But, I love ya’ anyway! All I can say is about my erratic dating of the letters is — that without you love one day is as all the rest & life is just one big blob without meaning or end! Ah! ha!

Incidently, the Dr. said amy eyes were nothing to worry about — just too close work too long & I’m a little farsighted, but he would give me a prescription for glasses as it would stop the eyestrain. I go back again a week from yesterday for a check up. At least I’m not blind yet!

Anne Carlson’s letter was real nice, said Glenn was working for the same Ins. Co., Coco was stolen, they bought a house in Glenview & no kids yet!

Boy, I was really relieved to find out Blackie was a dog — a Korean dog at that. I keep wondering what you will do with her if you have to evacuate Wonsan. I got a big kick out of your description of Yorg’s distemper & trust for his 3 kids sake if for no other that he doesn’t lose much more to a single man who obviously doesn’t need it like Rainalter. Tell ‘em I said so too.

Almost time to go to lunch now so will close, with all my love & kisses & hugs & wolf-calls! Nothin’ eager about this kid! Ow’oooo!

Love,
Janie-pink-ears

Tuesday
5 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
117

Dear Jane,

Plenty of mail today but none for me. There must be some for me some where. I hope you are getting my mail ok.

No lights tonight. They went out suddenly. I’m using my flashlight. Kind of hard, to say the least.

Went on a flight this morning. We worked with the army. They are regrouping. We are getting in position to hold a long time or until the big policy is decided.

It was warmer today. I installed another stove and got some gasoline. It is warm tonight in here.

My cold is going away and I hope it stays away.

I wrote to Mom & Dad last night. Dad says emphatically for me to tell you that at any time for any reason feel free to call on him for aid, sympathy, suggestions or what have you. You realize, of course, that you are also a Cameron now. My Dad is the head of my family and as such is much interested in me and mine — my wife in particular. He is also the head of the Cameron side of yours and my family. Don’t stew your head about too difficult problems just use him as you would use me. You married my family as well as me, you know. Whatever your problems, money, personal or what have you why talk to him. Remember he has had a life time experience with young people as a teacher. He’s heard every kind of story before. In his letter he wrote and asked me to write you that he was always available if needed.. No need to have secrets. Your mother may not be too much help and I’d much prefer you to take your problems to him or my mother than some stranger. I have no suspicion nor does he write as though he thinks something is wrong but I just thought I would express myself along this line so you could have it for future reference.

I love you dearly and will always be true and loyal — forever devoted.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 106

December 5, 1950
Tuesday

Dear Little Baby Rabbit,

Goody, goody gum drops No. 111 came today & as usual unless there had been MONEY to discuss you really would have had little to write about! But, I suppose I should be thankful for small favors! I am enclosing the statement that you wanted me to fill out for November. I trust it meets with your approval. I am glad you liked my accounting statements. Quite frankly I think they were pretty good too — especially for a flea brain like me!

As I have said before just forget about a Christmas present for me, & sometime at your convenience if you see something you think I might like why send it to me then. Or if you don’t I won’t feel badly because I don’t want you ever to buy junk. After all the watch was such a simply terrific present that takes care of anniversary, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter & birth day. Don’t worry your head about it because I’m not the least worried.

This afternoon Jan Moreland, the secy to the Dean of Graduate Study came home with me for dinner. We remembered Celie said Kirk wouldn’t be home for dinner either so we went to her house & had an old fashion, then Jan & I came back here & got dinner & Ceilie came a little later for dinner. I had big, old hamburgers, chips, fruit gelatin salad, etc. & both of them said it was a very good dinner. After the dishes we went over to Ceilie & Charys came to & we sewed, etc. & generally gabbed, etc. We had a real nice giggly time & enjoyed ourselves no end at a good, old cat session.

Gosh baby rabbit I sure do worry about you & wish you would hurry & come home to all of us kids. I think Buster is real lonesome for his daddy & wonders where he is. I really have a devil of a time getting out of bed in the morning without a pinchie, kickie bug around to get me up. Boy, do I like to snuggle with that pinchie bug even if he is a mean little kid sometimes — I loves him more than anything else in this whole world. There’s no other rabbit for me & never will be — no matter what. You’re all mine & I’m all yours!

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Wednesday
6 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
118

Dear Jane,

Today I received 4 letters. They were real good and very sweet. Boy how I like to get letters from you. Don’t ever think I’m mad at you because 99.99999999 per cent of the time I’m not. Sometimes I get tired and say things I shouldn’t but that’s not the true me writing that funk.

Tonight I went and visited with Hughes, Evans and Garton. They are cheerful and happy as ever. Garton says he wrote you once. Have you received the letter? Jan Curtis wanted to know about you and if I were over here with Garton. Apparently she wrote Garton. He said she might call on you. By the way, has Baesler ever called you?

Our lights are out again but we have a Coleman lantern working.

I flew over west of [Yonghung] which is south of here — between Wonsan and Hamhung. The Chinese are moving in over there. The Marines are fighting well and should make a very good showing. As you have probably heard they are more or less surrounded in the Choshin area. The 7^th Army Division more or less folded on their north flank but don’t worry the Marines are in good shape now and are fighting extremely well. The 7^th is in good shape except for a few of their units in the Reservoir area which were hit hard. They were badly outnumbered. Regardless of what happened to others the Marines are now a collected, cohesive unit capable of taking care of them selves. So much for the war.

I’m not sending the ^$250 because I don’t like the reliability of the mail service. It is a little too informal. I’ll send money when I get to Japan unless you need some now. I have only drawn ^$50 on 13 Oct as I remember. The paymaster isn’t set up here yet. As soon as he is set up I’m going to check into my pay. Seems like I’m always saying this.

The rumor about the 6 months tour is said to be only rumor and that 12 mo is the real thing. You never can tell what to believe.

Your letters sound as though you are being [rained] out. Seems like the dam is broken over there or something.

You could send my a whole bunch of Boulion cubes. You know — for soup or is broth. They would be real good. Send all kinds.

Well, I’ve got to get up at 515 AM tomorrow so I guess I better hit the sack — sack literally —

Never doubt of my love for one second. I’m true blue — I’m beging to look blue. You the only gal for me. I’ll be home and willing to snuggle, hug or kiss as you desire. I’m ready to cooperate and be ravaged by a wolfess. Remember no matter what my mood is when it comes to ladies you are the only one in my world. There is no other and there will be no other. I just love you, rabbit — that’s what it is and I’ve got a bad case of love for you. Just sit tight, pray and we will be together again just two happy rabbits.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

No. 107

Wednesday
December 6, 1950

Dear Little Baby Puss,

Gosh almighty, today we heard that Wonsan was evacuated & I’m real, real worried about you & have been wondering all day long where you are & what you’ve been doing. Were you able to take Blackie with you? I suspect you must still be in Korea because I think you would have cabled me if you’d come back to Japan. Wish the mail didn’t take so long. No letter from you today.

Today I got a letter from my mother & she is going to drive up here on the 15^th & spend that week-end with me & the first 3 days of the next week, then we’re going to drive down to L.A. So I canceled my plane reservation to L.A. only & picked up the rest of the tickets this afternoon & it cost me ^$111.⁸⁷ for the round-trip to El Paso from L.A. & L.A. to S.F.

Tonight I finally had to break down & iron as that is one thing I have really let go since you’ve been gone & finally feel I must do something drastic.

Let me say again I hardly approve of your buying photographic equipment in Japan & no you (Scrooge) will not go overboard on the subject as Roger Wallace has. Isabelle told me Big Game week-end that in one month last summer Roger spent ^$200- on photographic equipment. That, I would consider a little rash after you had secured the initial equipment, but know being married to Scrooge I you wouldn’t do it anyway. But I do think it is a wonderful idea & am all for it!

Gosh. baby bunny wiggle puss with the beautiful soft white & pink ears I love you so much it hurts me inside when I get in bed at night & you are not there to snuggle with. I really love you with all my heart & soul & believe me when I say life just isn’t complete without my precious ‘wabbit around me.

I’m real, real sleepy so hope you will excuse me if I cut this short — but believe me — you’re my one & only love.

All my love & xxxx,
Jane

Thursday
7 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
119

Dear Jane,

The book by Hurst and the box of cigars came today. Thanks baby rabbit, thanks a lot. The book made me think of the Contracts book you sent. Did you send it before or after this one? I wonder if it is lost. The number of missing letters has me puzzled. I know you have written but I haven’t received them. Other fellow’s wives write every day and they have no missing letters. Strange is it not?

What shall I do about a present for you? At present, I’m just going to waite until I get back to Japan and then I will try and get something. I think we will be here several more weeks at least.

I flew up to Choshin. We found a lot of troops and houses in a large clump of trees. We chases troops all over the hills. Don’t let the news from this area worry you too much. The Marines have to the power to do what they want to. They are slowly pulling out of the area. The Marines have the situation well in hand.

Today was a beautiful one. It wasn’t too cold. My cold is just about gone.

By the way, I now have enough cigars. The Boullion cubes would be delicious. I can taste it now. The hand ker chiefs I can certainly use.

Our money is still in the paymaster’s hands. As I have said before I’m going to check on it. Keep reminding me about your travel pay to El Toro. I’m going to check that next also.

Baby pink ears I can hardly waite until I get home to little old you. There is nothing I want more in this world than to return to you and make love ever after. Never worry about me being true and faithful. I’ve got the love bug badly. You can hug and kiss and love all you want and I will cooperate heartily. On the vacation I expect to get when I get back we will go off and love and love and love. By the way, save the schedule I made. My goal of 12 seems a little low compared to the way I feel. I may be able to hit close to 18 in the 1^st 24 hours. This sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Don’t you like the prosets?

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 108

Thursday
December 7, 1950

Dear Little Rabbit Pants,

Boy, you’ve never seen so much rain in your whole life as we’ve had this year — it has simply poured cats & nigger babies all day today until everything is positively swimming. I guess all the rain has done considerable damage to the crops in the San Joaquin Valley. Many people have been homeless due to the floods there. Reno, Nevada was completely flooded when the Truckee River overflowed a couple of weeks ago & I guess the levees & dikes on all the rivers around are weakened. Gov. Warren has called a state of emergency in all the flooded areas.

Tonight at 4 p.m. there was an Executive Com Mtg. of H & S which lasted till 6:15 p.m. & of course I nearly went nutz because this is the night I go to my sewing class. I was 1/2 hour late to my class & then found no one had come except the teacher because it was such a rainy night. But, of course I got a lot done because I got gobs of individual attention which heaven knows I need —but I think the dress might, even in spite of me, turn out quite well.

No letter from my precious baby again today, but I suppose it’s the mailman’s fault. However, I am worried about what happened to you after Wonsan was evacuated, & what you did with Blackie. They have been saying that Wonsan was evacuated to Hamhung (or someplace like that).

Gosh, baby if you ever knew for one minute how much I miss you, how lonesome it is without you & how much I love you — you’d really be flattered & your ego would go up about 200%!!

Today I got a letter from Beth Bachtel & she said they were coming up here next week, so I immediately wrote her & asked them to stay with me.

Gosh, I’m getting quite excited at the prospect of a real vacation & going to El Paso. But never fear, baby ‘wabbit, I’ll never look twice at any other men, because frankly they just don’t interest me. Don’t worry! You’re all I have & all I want! Just hurry & come home.

All my love & kisses & bear hugs,
Jane

Friday
8 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
120

Dear Jane,

It has been snowing all day. The snow is piling up on the ground. Naturally, there was no flying today. Actually, it isn’t too cold.

There was no mail for me today. Too bad. I keep expecting a box of cookies or candy — just like you sent before.

Our room is all set up now. It is warm. We have electric lights. I even found a dresser in which I keep my gear. Also, I found a desk made out of boxes. I’m using it now. I also found a folding wooden chair which I am using now. I have a cot and mattress. On top of this is my sleeping bag. All in all I’m doing real well. However, the food is lousy.

The life here is very quiet. It seems there are no parties of or nor any drinks around. I guess it is because the fellows are older and 90% of them are married. So far there is nothing going on like in the last war. All of us seem to be real tame.

I’m getting ready to go over to the paymaster. I figure if I stay away from that place I won’t be tempted to spend or draw any cash. I’m going to get a check and send it to you. I see some of the other fellows doing that. One thing that has been going around in my mind for the last few weeks is the question of house hold items. It seems from the record that things are not moving too fast. By the way, this budget you sent: do you have a copy of it or did you just make one draft and send it me? Well, anyway, I’ve been thinking of sending you ^$300 to be applied to the Washing Machine debt and the other ones (B of A ^$60.23 and Sears ^$31.82)(as of 1 Nov) Then out of the January income you could put another ^$50 approximately and polish off the debts. The net result would be that the debts would be gone and most important you could put over ^$100 in January towards house items. February you could put ^$200 on the house. However, I’m awaiting your 1 December accounting statement before I send anything. I can only act on the basis of these records. You see what is going on in my mind. If you would only rush the statements to me I can make plans. For some reason or other I tend to trust more my financial plans and ability to act correctly than I am in do your ability. You are too easily diverted from a given course of action and prone to compromise the ends desired. This is also part of the reason for my vacillation in sending our savings out of my control. Well, when I get the 1 Dec statement I’ll check it and if the proper course of action seems to be to send the ^$300 for the purpose above I will do some. I’m sure you will carry the plan out. ^$300 sent would still leave us with a small reserve of cash. I await th records.

Well, little pink ears I love you more than ever — even if my letters are kind of mean — inside I’ve gots lots of love, unlimited resources of love for you. This rabbit is a good rabbit and his ears are straight up. There is sadness in his heart because he wants to be sitting on that wall twisting ears and looking at the moon with you. There is just a big sad lump way down in the center which never goes away. As time goes by I desire stronger and stronger to get home to you — just to be with you forever. You mean so very much to me. I’d never do anything to hurt you or make you really sad. Never lose faith in me because I’ll never lose faith in you.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

P.S. Socking came over for a visit. I didn’t know he was here. He looked tired. We talked of home and how we would like to get back. He asked how you were.

No. 109

Friday
December 8, 1950

Dear Little Pink Ears,

No letters from my precious baby wiggle today & that always makes me sad as heck, especially when the news is so very discouraging.

Today was just another old day. I sent a letter to Beth & Dick today after they wrote me yesterday that they were coming up next week, & asked them if they wouldn’t stay with me at least until Friday when my mother is coming. I hope they will stay here because I like to have company — besides Buster, Baby-cat & Cinder, that is.

After work I did do a little Christmas shopping, however. I bought you a pound of Clint’s chocolates — milk creams for you. Then I went to Lucile’s (the gift shop next to the hardware) & bought a trivet for Aunt Winnie for Christmas & I’ll get grandfather some tobacco. A trivet is a metal, decorative hot dish pad you put on the table. In other words you use it instead of a hot dish pad. I think they’re quite cute & cost ^$1.²⁵. I also got one for Aunt Edna McCall. God, I just can’t get in the mood of Christmas shopping — mainly because it’s no fun & to shop without you.

Boy, baby wabbit, you’ll never know how much I miss you & wish you were here with me, because you just don’t know how lonesome it is to come home to our little house & never find a baby bunny there, nobody but just old Cinder, Baby-cat & Buster. Quite frankly they’re nice, but not very snuggly & don’t show much affection. Even if you did scoff at my wolfish affections I still think deep down underneath you used to like it when I’d come up with a big, old, gooey bear hug. Just wait until you come home you’ll be subjected to the biggest old bearhugs you’ve ever seen & a little rabbit with pink ears climbing all over you until you’ll scream for mercy, & wish & pray you had a rigid wife! You just wait & see. It’ll be 10 times worse than it ever used to be!!!! I’m a fiendish rabbit besides! Thinking of new ways of attack! Ah! Ha!!!!

All my love & kisses,
Jane-fiendish-lover

Saturday
9 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
121

Dear Jane,

I received your letter #100 today. It was very nice and not like my mean old ones at all.

You say lived by your budget very well, of courss, you know that makes me feel good. Wonder why? I guess I’m a mean old scrooge — but why?

What was done to the car which cost ^$30. That seems like quite a bit. Did he give you an itemized bill? If so, would you send it to me.

I bet Dick Knowlton is getting a little excited about being called. I bet the other guys are getting a little jumpy also. At least, that is one worry we don’t have to face now.

What is going wrong with your eyes? Is it all that fine print you read? Remember how my eyes used to bother me. Well, they are fine now. I guess they needed this rest and also I look long distance quite a bit. Today I flew up north of Choshin Reservoir with Perkins (a guy from 141). Between us we burned 3 trucks, knocked out two others, knocked out two buildings with a 500# bomb and placed some rockets in another building, strafed troops, and all in all we had quite a shoot up.

I’ve started reading Hurst’s book. It sounds just like he lectures. Wonder what happened to the Contracts book?

The cold has settled down to a cool level and doesn’t seem too bad. The Marines are doing a fine job up at the reservoir. It will certainly go down as one of the division’s best tactical maneuvers. They are fighting all the way out. They are about ready to go down into the Sudong Valley about now. The Air Wing of Marines is doing a good job also. This is no rout that is for sure. The Chinks are paying a very high price. I think it may be high even to Chinas manpower potential which is in a way good news.

You are my only lover and I will be true blue forever and ever. Just you be as good as I am.

I observe that the fellows who seem interested in women out here married either before they were 20 or in their early 20’s. Perhaps they don’t realize the value of their wives or they never sowed their wild oats as a young fellow. The true blue fellows generally married in their laters 20’s.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 109 110

Saturday
December 9, 1950

Dearest Little Wabbit,

No letter today from my precious baby & now I am really beginning to get worried & I am a . But I suppose it’s the mailman’s fault although I am really wondering where you are after Wonsan was evacuated.

Today was a beautiful sunny, warm day so when I got up this morning I decided I better really begin to wash in earnest so everything would be all clean if Beth & Dick come this next week & I know my mother is coming Friday or Saturday. I did go to town & picked up the trivets I bought last night & Mrs. Bullock fitted the skirt on my new skirt suit. Then I came home & washed some more & Betty Ramsey, Peggy Dermody’s niece, came over for a short visit, then I just had time to get dressed & went over to Grace’s & took corned beef & cabbage & boiled potatoes & Clint’s rocky road ice cream. Grace made a good molded gelatin salad. After dinner we watched television which was very good (for a change I might add). After about an hour & a half I came home as after that television bores me a little altho’ Frank Morgan was very funny. I washed my hair & I’m now writing you.

Gosh, baby bunny I miss you so much & Saturday nights are especially gruesome because you & I usually did something that was fun & now I only have Buster, Cinder & Baby-cat for excitement. I can hardly wait when the day comes when some time I look up & there you are home again. All I’ve got to say is there’ll be a hot-time in the old town that night!

Will you forgive me if I cut this short & go to sleep now. All the rest of the kids are asleep & I’m very sleepy. Besides I have to get a good nights sleep so I can get up early tomorrow & clean this house like mad on account of all the houseguests.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Sunday
10 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
122

Dear Jane,

No mail today. Seems like we are moving out again. I guess in a few days we will be in Itami. Most of my gear went out tonight.

Don’t know what is coming off. Neither does anyone else. Wonder how long we will be in Japan: I hate to leave this nice room. No sooner do we get set up than we move out. It never pays to get set up I guess.

The paymaster alludes me again. He is packed and not operating so I guess I’ll catch him at Itami. I might be able to get you a Xmas present after all.

There is nothing much to write about tonight. A fellow by the name of Pat Dugan made some real good oyster stew in his room and we all got some of it. It sure tasted good.

Itami means a bath for all of us. I can hardly waite for the good old shower. The O’Club ought to come in handy also.

As far as news goes, you know more about what goes on than I do. There is no telling when this tour over here will end. We may in the future be hitting our present home.

I love you very much and am the faithful rabbit now and always. You are the only woman for me in the whole wide world. Never fear that this boy will go astray and break your old heart — he never will.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No 111

Sunday
December 10, 1950

Dearest Rabbit,

Boy was I ever a busy kid today & that’s no foolin’. I got up & changed the paper in some of the kitchen cupboards, thoroughly cleaned (even to washing the windows) in the bedroom, living room & bath. I worked right along all day long & didn’t have time to get to the kitchen before I pooped out, but will do that tomorrow night. I felt I’d better get the house cleaned up before all these houseguests descend. Then I had dinner & decided I wanted some of Clint’s rocky road ice cream, so went over & got a pint & ate the whole thing! God, am I a pig. Now I’m listening to Jack Benny & he’s really very funny tonight. Have you heard the song Phil Harris has made so popular of late called “The Thing”? I think it’s the cutest song they’ve had out for a long, long time.

Gosh, baby have I told you recently how much I love you & much you mean to me? You’re all I have & all I need. Believe me I never look at another man & am not interested in other men so don’t worry on that score, please. After all my hard work I’m a tired rabbit & hope you won’t mind if I cut this short! Just don’t forget — I love only You!

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Monday
11 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
123

Dear Jane,

No mail today. They’ve closed the P.O. We are leaving in a day or two for Japan I guess.

I saw General MacArthur as he went to his plane today. I was naturally curious to see how he looked. Looks just like any other man. He was patting his generals on their backs — apparently to cheer them up.

The tempo of fighting has reduced considerably. The Marines have gotten down the hill finally in good shape. They did a good job. Believe me, the Chinese sure hide themselves when we come flying over now. Remember when I wrote about how they never took cover? The boys on the ground who are back say the Chinese were piled up in spots by the hundreds. The ground boys tell us they never would have gotten off the plateau if it hadn’t been for the air support. From what I hear I would say Marine Air Support is here to stay. The idea of close air support has finally made the grade as the chief weapon in close aid to the infantry.

I couldn’t mail #122 because the PO is closed. I won’t be able to mail this either. I’ll just have to take these letters to Itami with me.

I flew two hops today so I am kind of tired. The fellows have all hit the pad and say they are going to turn out the light. So I’ll have to close now.

I’m still the good rabbit and all your rabbit. Never will I fail you. Funny how you have me wrapped around your little finger and how I like it that way. You make me feel secure and give me a center to all this confusion. There never any trouble being loyal and faithful to you. Knowing how wonderful you are and just thinking of how nice it would be to be there with you makes me feel warm inside. I hope our love will never change and that we may grow old peacefully and always experience this feeling regardless of all material changes that may befall us.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 112

Monday
December 11, 1950

Dear Baby,

Oh boy — I’m a happy rabbit today because I got 4 letters from my baby today — Nos. 112, 113, 114 & 115! But I was real sorry to hear you had such a bad cold & a temperature of 101°. I hope you are all over it now. I was glad to hear you had moved to Hamhung, but sort of imagine from the news that you have even moved from there now. The thing I am most disturbed about is the fact that you have not gotten all my letters — for the 257^th time I write you every day & I’ve mailed each one & if you haven’t gotten them it’s the postman’s fault — NOT MINE! Shall I write 100 times to convince you? (the following)
I have written Mert every day
I have written Mert every day
I have written Mert every day.

God, bunny, I’m awfully mad because you haven’t rec’d all my letters because I DO write every day & please don’t doubt for one minute that my love ever waivers for one minute for you. You’re my ONE & ONLY baby rabbit & I’ll always love only you. Please don’t ever doubt my steadfast love for you because it’s always constant & always will be! Now — please — BELIEVE IN ME!

I was very interested to read what you had to say about the Chinese Reds, because, believe me the news here is very black. We did hear, however, that the troops that were trapped near the reservoir’s had broken through & reached Hamhung & that there were ships waiting to move the troops out of Hamhung.

You asked me in No. 115 how I managed to get people to like me so easily & how I stayed single long enuf to meet you. Well, my honest answer is — that until I met & married you I was NOT as nice as I am now — if I do say so myself. You have made me nicer 1) because you’re always nice & have set an example for me, 2) you’ve knocked my ears off when I got snotty, & 3) you’ve made me happy for the first time I can remember because I’ve had someone who returned my affection. I just wasn’t as nice before I married you. All this honestly comes from the bottom of my heart & I mean every word of it! You see baby, I REALLY need you because you keep me in line & round out my life & personality. Please believe I mean this with all my heart!

This afternoon I went to the oculist again & for the final time. He said I just needed glasses for reading. Then I went down to get the prescription filled & to my pleasant surprise the frames & prescription will only come to about ^$20- — which was about 1/2 of what I expected.

Then I took the rest of the corned beef over to Grace’s & she & I had dinner as Eddie had to stay up in the City tonite. Then I came home & did the job that I really miss you for — scrubed & am now in the process of waxing the kitchen floor! Ugh! Is that ever a repulsive job!

Peggy Dermody called & asked me over for dinner Wed. nite & Bud said to ask me over for breakfast tomorrow & when they insisted I said “yes”. God, will I have to get up early for a change! Tomorrow night I guess the sewing gals will come here because I have to iron!

Well, bunny bugs I guess I’d better hit the lonely old sack now.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Tuesday
12 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
124

Dear Jane,

Another day goes by and no mail plus no Post office. It looks as though everybody in the area is going to leave some time soon. Apparently we are all leaving because it is feared that in a showdown fight in our present position we may lose on this battle-field. Why doesn’t the UN call the hand the Reds have played? Can there be any doubt that we are now engaged in the big struggle with Russia? If we ever want peace, Russia must be destroyed. We can’t go on fighting without hitting their factions, and supply lines. War with Russia is not inevitable, it is here and the Russians have made it as clear as they possibly could that we either give in on every point or be attacked where-ever we resist their expansion. The time to resist is now, tomorrow or next year. May be too late. Our only choice is to resist Russia to the utmost or else we must lose forever and all generations the freedom and ideals and living conditions we now enjoy and hold so dear. How clear can our dead and wounded make real to all our people that the big war is on and no attempt at arbitration or settlement can be had with Russia. Russia has done everything in her power to provoke the fight. How can the UN deny and for reorganizing our allied casualties fail to act in the only way Russia has left open for us. The only course they present to us is the war which they have now engaged us. Do we fear war so much that or is life so dear that we must bow to the would be conquor. How much of Russia’s world design must be revealed before even the blind and the coward can see the warp and woof? So much for all this.

It turned much warmer today. We had turkey for lunch and tonight I had chicken with a second helping of steak. Quite some chow! It sure needed some improving however.

I love you very much and will soon be with you, I hope. By the way I gave #122 and 123 to a transport pilot to take to Itami or some-place and mail. Also, in one of them are some surrender pamphlets which a fellow found. Odd approach to us, I would say.

I’m still faithful and loyal. My biggest wish is to be with you — believe me.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 113

Tuesday
December 12, 1950

Dearest Little Baby,

Boy, oh boy I’m kind of mad at you because I received Nos. 116 & 117 today & you certainly intimated I haven’t been writing & that makes me mad as hops because I thought I’ve been so good & faithful about writing. Then you gave me a long discourse on going to your dad if I had any problems — as if, I did & wasn’t telling YOU! For the one millionth time I AM NOT IN TROUBLE (haven’t socked any small children) & HAVEN’T BEEN SINCE YOU LEFT. ALSO — I LOVE YOU ONLY & HAVE NO THOUGHTS OTHERWISE. Ye gods, boy, why in the hell don’t you believe me? I believe in you & trust you, why don’t you flatter me & do the same? After all you were the one that did the “promiscuous” running around before we were married, & [therefore] I’m the one that should be most worried. Why won’t you rest your little head from worrying about my would-be faithlessness. I’m really getting sort of PO-ed about the whole thing. Have I ever given you ANY reason to doubt me? Well, enuf of that but fer gosh sakes I have written EVERY day. The only possible thing I can think of is that I sometimes put your letters in interdepartmental mail & recently Charys & I KNOW they have failed to deliver some depts the mailings we’ve put out. We sent out a faculty meeting letter to each faculty member & double checked & 2 depts didn’t get their notices. Needless to say it was MOST embarrassing & much to our chagrin. I cannot blame all the missing letters on them but will say it might acct for 1 or 2 — not all tho!

Within the last week I’ve sent you 6 cans & boxes of food — candy, cookies & nuts — all 1^st class, air mail to the tune of ^$10.⁴⁰ — Now, please tell me if they all arrive. Have you rec’d Contracts & my 3 Xmas packages yet?

God, sonny be careful when reaching for Vicks when your razor is nearby — ye gods — little boys shouldn’t have such dangerous things around in the middle of the night.

Incidently, what happened to Blackie when you left Wonsan? I hope you didn’t have to leave her behind.

Yesterday & today were the most god-awful days at work — just like a 3-ring circus. After work today I thought I was going to flip my cookies I was so tied up inside & wound up. All I can say is I think I’d pop if I weren’t going on a vacation next week.

This morning I went over to Dermody's about 7:30 & Bud had breakfast all ready & all Peggy & I had to do was sit down & eat — & it was real good too!

Tonight Ceilie came here for dinner as Kirk is working nearly every night in the City & had chow mein from the Chinese Kitchen. Charys came later & we were all so bushed. Everyone left quite early altho' we got a lot of yakking done while we were at it!

Please believe me that I love you more than anything in the whole world & only you & only live for the day when you come back.

All my love & xxxxx & hugs,
Jane

Wednesday
13 December 1950
Yonpo, Korea
125

Dear Jane “Pink ears”,

The mail situation is in bad shape. One, there is no PO here. Two, there are no envelopes. I will have to mail 124 and this one as well as any others I write at Itami. We are scheduled to go there sometime. I’m packing my gear tonight. You’d be surprised how light I can travel now.

Since the move is coming everyone is eating goodies and drinking cokes like mad. It is amazing the stuff people had cached away. We even have been eating turkey, steak and chicken right and left. They are cleaning out the lockers.

We are still flying in support of the Army. The Marines are now ok but for a time lots of people were sure that was the end of the 1^st Marine division. However, if you flew over the lines and watched them work their way out you would never doubt their ability to return at a calm leisurely pace which they did. You know the division was completely surrounded where the terrain couldn’t have been more unfavorable to us. Actually, the Marines didn’t retreat because they had to attack to go in any direction. There were about 20,000 Marines up there and they were being hit on all sides by Chinese forces estimated between 80-90,000. So you see — no matter where we strafed we hit some Chinese. Funny how things have changed. The crunchies used to call us “fly-boys” “buzy boys” and other names in a derogatory way. Joe Kapsch a Capt was helping unload the wounded at the aid station on the field and he says that when some of them found out he was a Marine pilot some of them hugged him and told him with tears in their eyes how glad they were to have those planes mowing the Chinks down. They were sure that without the planes they would never have made it. As they moved forward the crunchies found hundreds and hundreds a Chinese dead from our 50 cal machine guns. It got to a point where the Chinese only fought at night and hid by day. That allowed our boys to rest some during the day. If the Chinks could have kept up heavy attacks during the day like they did at night the 1^st Div would not now exist. It was a very, very close shave indeed. So much for the war.

I’m eagerly waiting to get to Itami to get some of those wonderful letters from you. They sure keep me going. Never did I ever realize or imagine that some day would I be so much in love with anyone as I am in love with you. Compared to how I feel now I doubt if I was in love with you when we were married. How I feel now is the result of three years of knowing you and being with you and believe me it is a strange new feeling. Now I love you for many different reasons and I know I love you whereas before the feeling was only skin deep so to speak. Well, I know you don’t like to read this kind of love mush so I will cut it off right here.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 114

Wednesday
December 13, 1950

Dear Baby,

No mail from you today — boo! hoo! And besides that I feel just terrible tonight — I expect all my cookies to come up any minute. I don’t know whether I ate something or if I’m just all tired out & really need a vacation or if I’ve got a touch of the flu. At any rate, I thought the day would never end.

Peggy Dermody asked me over for dinner tonight & so I went. Jewell & Ralph — her niece & husband were there too. She had a real nice dinner — meat loaf, candied sweet potatoes, pickled peaches, green peas, & fruit salad with tapioca for dessert. I left about 7 p.m. & came home & fed the kidlets & am now writing you.

Hope you won’t mind if I cut this real short because I feel lousy — to say the least!

Don’t ever forget though I love you most of anything or anybody in this whole world & always will. Your all I want & all I ever will want!

All my love & xxx,
Jane

Thursday
14 December 1950
Itazuki, Japan
126

Dear “Pink Ears”,

Well, as you can see we are in Japan. What a nice place this is compared to Korea. The difference is terrific.

This morning I flew a reconnaissance hop down to Wonsan and west of there. We are all out of that area and near to Hamhung. I found nothing to shoot so we went up to Koto-ri and bombed and rocketed three of the remaining buildings — just so the Chinese couldn’t use them to keep warm in. You know, Hagaru-ri used to be a fairly large town but now it is practically non-existent. There are a few buildings left but not many. Early in november it was a pleasant hustling looking town but now it is mostly snow covered ruins. The same is true of Koto-ri.

The road the Marines used is lined with smashed and burnt equipment. The Chinese did fight well but not well enough to achieve their objective of annihilating the Marines. This is all very expensive. It staggers the imagination to think about the cost of all this.

The flight down here was very nice. We went from Yonpo to Pusan to Itazuki. We only landed at Itazuki. The weather is bad so we are staying here tonight. We are about six miles from the field at a very nice base. The chow was wonderful. Oh yes! the shower — boy oh boy — the shower! I just stood under it and purred and purred. And the toilet seat — oh! the toilet seat! That is essential equipment and I’m taking one with me from here on out. Did I ever tell you about sitting out in a cold rain storm on the head. That was an experience. At Yonpo I sat in a snow storm. We finally got tents up around the heads. The only thing I really dislike is the cold. Cold! Cold! Cold! At 5 in the morning it is very, very cold. I doubt if you can imagine the cold. It is at least 3 times as bad as Massachusetts if you can imagine that.

The bar! bar! bar! The one here is fine! fine! fine! I’m off to the bar now.

I love you very much.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

No. 115

Thursday
December 14, 1950

Dearest Baby Bunny,

No letters from my pink eared rabbit today either ! But I expect it’s the mailman’s fault & not yours — I trust you’ve received some more of mine by this time. This morning when I woke up I felt so lousy I didn’t go to work. I just felt barfy — but after staying in bed nearly all day now feel much better & think I’ll live now.

This afternoon Beth & Dick Bachtel came by for just a minute, & they’re coming back tomorrow night & stay all nite but have to leave Sat. morning, but of course that’s O.K. with me because I expect my mother Saturday. But, I’ll be real glad to have the visit with Beth & Dick. They both looked real good & thought the pictures here I have like the one I sent you was very, very good, but Dick said he thought it was a dirty trick to send you one like that. They both said to say “hello” to you & were interested in knowing all about you.

Tonight I ironed, polished shoes, washed my hair so that I’ll be relatively free when all this company descends upon me.

We hear over the radio that the Chinese have begun an honest-to-goodness air offensive & that Hamhung has been attacked. Gosh, bunny do I ever worry about you. I just wonder what you’re doing all the time because you my only true & loyal lover & the only one I want. All I’ve got to say is hurry home so we can snuggle again in our little house & start on that family. It really is ghastly to live all by yourself — believe me!

All my love & kisses & BEAR hugs!
Jane

Friday
15 December 1950
Itami, Japan
127

Dear “Pink eared Rabbit”,

The trip to Itami was fine. It is nice and warm in Japan. Nice place Japan. It feels like home, but not too much like home.

#’s 105, 106, and 108 were waiting for me when I landed this afternoon. They were real good letters. Very good. I wasn’t aware that all I wrote about was MoNey but now that I think of it that is a fine subject to write about. Your statement arrived and to say the least I was very happy. I hope you will fill in 1 Jan’s and send it on time as you have done so well these last two months. I do believe there is hope for you after all. The concept of having less go out than comes in is really not too difficult.

A coffee can of delicious cookies came. They are very good, excellent, wonderful, out of this world. Send gobs more. I love them. The cookies were sensational, outstanding remarkable, tasty, fresh. For some reason or other they were all broken into little pieces. Some how other people get whole cookies. I can’t figure it out. Do you break them?

Glad to hear you are going to El Paso. Have a good time but don’t let any fellows sex you up and don’t drink too much so you let some guy diddle with you. It is far easier to be sweet and nice when temptation is far away than when temptation is close at hand.

I got a letter from Mom and a fruit cake. It is real good. I do believe you can now cook as well as my mother. That is doing damn well too.

We have no idea how long we will be here but we will be here for some time I guess. Now I can go and find you a Christmas present. Goodie!

They are having a “Happy hour” at the club tonight. Free drinks from 1600 to 1800. That ought to do me in. Won’t be able to write after that so am writing now. The room I’m in is warm. The weather is pleasant. The chow is good. I love you. Anything else? Since you have objected to the love stuff I write I’ll just make passing reference to my love for you. It’s quite real.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 116

Friday
December 15, 1950

Dearest Baby Rabbit,

It’s now 12:15 & Dick & Beth have just gone to bed so I’ll just write you a note as I’m pretty sleepy myself. No letter from my dearest ‘wabbit today either, but I have come to the conclusion that they only send your mail out once or twice a week & therefore it only comes to me in spurts. Dick & Beth came about 6:15 tonight & we had fresh, cracked crab, steak, creamed potatoes, spinach salad, olives, etc. & Clint’s rocky road for dinner. They told me some about Europe & their experiences & we just generally gabbed until now, about stuff & junk. They did say Frank Jones married his secretary, they Jorgensen’s & Hayward’s were on their 2^nd children etc., etc.

Gosh, baby ‘wabbit at times like these I really miss my baby. When I see other people happy & together it makes me green with envy, but I suppose someday before I know it you’ll be back here with me just as if you’d never been away at all! Oh happy, happy day.

Don’t ever forget your my one & only true love & there are no others beside you for me & never, never will be. I love you with all my heart & soul — believe in me!

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Saturday
16 December 1950
Itami, Japan
128

Dear Jane,

Nothing new today. We are going to fly tomorrow, FCLP hops. Field carrier landings to be exact. They think we may go on a carrier but I doubt it. We may go to some land base in Korea.

I was all hot to call you but the telephone lines are busy until Dec 28^th. You might know that would be our luck. I think I will send a cable but don’t know what that would add to the letters I keep sending every day.

It is quite warm here. What a relief that is! We are living in Transient quarters but expect to move to a house at the Tozarusuka Hotel. They say that is quite the place. I don’t particularly want to leave this place. Itami is good enough for me. In the house we will have a maid. Some fun!

There is a possibility of my getting a rest leave for 48 hours a Kyoto. They say that is a fine place. But I don’t know how good that would be for me. You see I don’t play around so half other peoples sport is destroyed. Women seem to be the thing to get. I don’t seem to have any desire for sex without you.

I love you as always and want to be yours and only yours for ever and ever. No one else appeals to me or ever will. Just you be as good as I am and all will be well with us rabbits.

Since I have so little to write about I have to cut this off. You don't like what I say about money so I’ll just have to leave a big blank space in my letters.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 117

Saturday
December 16, 1950

Dearest Rabbit,

Oh, boy I’m a happy rabbit again because I got 3 big beautiful letters from you today! Nos. 119, 120 & 121, but there were a few things in the letters that need discussing. First of all I have never before heard or seen written that you wanted bullion cubes, & all of a sudden you make the very sarcastic remark that they would taste very good! God, man I’m not a mind reader & I have, within the past week sent you 6 cans of cookies, candy & nutz. I must confess I have completely forgotten about the handkerchiefs, but will now make a great effort to remember & send you some as soon as possible.

I must also confess I am completely baffled, befuddled & just plain dumbfounded with surprise when you say you think you will send me ^$300- to pay off the debts so I can buy furniture quicker. Quite frankly I don’t think it’s such a hot idea & I do not understand at all your line of reasoning. It must be that you are very anxious to get all the debts paid off pronto (my mother’s sleeping in the bedroom & the ink is in there so I’ll finish in pencil) or that you think you’ll be in the service a long time or that you think we’ll all be knocked out soon by an atom bomb. The later possibility could be true but perhaps is not as likely as the other two, altho there is a GREAT deal of talk here about an A-bomb attack. Quite frankly I think the ^$300- should go in the savings acct because if I should by any remote chance have to or want to get out of here in a hurry I’d no doubt be in a mell of a hess if I only had ^$150- or so $ at my disposal. Of course, I’m not planning on the eventuality, but I am now getting like you used to be & want some money IN the bank. I can easily pay the B of A, Mt View & the washing machine off by Feb. 2. I’ve waited a long time for furniture & one more month or two won’t be vital.

I sent Contracts after the Hurst book & I’m sorry to say I forgot to send it air mail, altho’ I’ve sent everything else air mail.

I’m READY, willing & ABLE for BOTH you & JR. during the first 24 hours you’re back & can hardly wait until that lovely, beautiful day, but po’ lil’ Clit has been a good, patient & true lover to Jr., altho she is awfully lonesome for him!

Enclosed is the bill you wanted from Gay & Bradshaw. He said it was a wonder the right front wheel hadn’t come off the king pins were so worn.

Dick & Beth left about 8 a.m. & I had time to clean the house up a little bit & my mother came about 1 p.m. Shall I let it go to say she was the same as usual — !‽ We had lunch, got dressed & went to the City. I bought a new white & navy hat to go with my new suit with a feather that sticks straight up — ^$12.⁹⁵! But I think even you would concede it’s a dilly. Then we went to Omar Khayaams for dinner & boy did it make me think of you! Good as usual. Then we stopped by David’s & Freda’s & had a cup of coffee, but they were going out so we only stayed about 1/2 an hour. Then we drove home Skyline Blvd. & now I’m writing my own dear, sweet rabbit. I’m sleepy as heck so will stop here.

All my luve & oooo & xxxx
Jane

Sunday
17 December 1950
Itami, Japan
129

Dear Jane,

No mail on Sunday but I have two slips to pick up packages tomorrow. This afternoon I bounced for a 1/2 hour. It went ok. We will keep this up for some time I guess. I would like to live on a carrier however. I have moved to our new house. It is quite nice but cold. Perkins, Rainalter, Sutherland, Forest, Moncrief, Henneberger and a new fellow live here. It is a good bunch. Tonight I’m tired and so I’m going to bed. They are keeping the bar alive at the Hotel. Also, I have to get paid tomorrow. I think I will go to Kyoto: That may be good. At least 48 hours away from this sounds good to me. I have been getting quite tired of late. It seems everybody else is also. We just sit around the ready room from 8 AM to 4 PM and all I did was fly for 1/2 hour. It sounds easy but really it is quite tiring.

I have been looking around for a Chrisstmas for you. So far I have had no luck. Hope I can decide on something soon.

There sure is a lot of gear a guy accumulates. It seems I have piles of junk. Wish you were here to straighten this problem out.

Since you won’t let me talk about money I don’t know what to write now. What does one write about? Here, I’ve written 128 letters and can’t figure that one out.

Be true to me because I am true to you. You can’t guess how I feel about you and how secure you are in my life. I worry about losing you constantly. Life without you would be really horrible. It is bad being away from you but how awful it would be not to be coming home to you some day. How minor were our differences and how silly we must have been to argue like we did at times. Maybe it is healthy to argue every now and then just to let off steam.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 118

Sunday
December 17, 1950

Dearest Baby Rabbit,

Mail today on account of the Xmas rush, but none from my precious ‘wabbit. But I suppose 3 yesterday was pretty good.

Today was a typical day as I used to spend with my mother. We did exactly what she wanted to do, altho’ I kept saying I had a lot to do, but that was of little consequence. As a result she was so tired she went to bed about 7 p.m. & I’ve been working like a beaver addressing Xmas cards, cleaning the back porch, etc. First of all, she wanted to get up at 7 a.m. on a Sunday! God, that in itself was ghastly for me! Then she wanted to go to church; we were going to go to Memorial Church at Stanford, but it wasn’t open for services today, so of course, we simply went to the C.S. Church. God, what a poor excuse for a church. Then we went to see one of her friends for a minute & the old gal didn’t leave here until 6 p.m.! And my whole day shot! We drove to Los Gatos & Saratoga & had dinner at a sort of dump the “friend” knew about! At least I’m going to be spared when I spend a night or two with your folks in Southern Cal. Then, blow upon blow Charys called to say Dick‘s father had a 20^th or something heart attack & they were leaving tomorrow instead of Friday. Isn’t that just ducky? I’m just about through with Charys as far as the office goes. She’s pulled about 1 too many of these deals, & she’s not too good on the savvy in the office to say the least. Sometimes I think she’s right next to a moron.

Did I tell you I got my glasses Friday & they help 100% as far as the ghastly sick headaches I’ve gotten lately go & that’s what I was trying to get rid of because I really have had some dillies.

Did I also tell you last week I finally got 6 soup dishes by saving 475 of those green tickets Foodliner gives & surprisingly enuf they are not bad at all & really pretty good. Each one is a real pretty different color.

For the first time in a long time today was a real pretty sunny day & I did all the washing I could which I’d been saving for a long time.

Gosh, bunny how long do you think you’ll be in Korea. When you do get back to Japan will you call me or at least promise to send me another radiogram? Please baby rabbit. I can’t think of anything that would make me more happy than hearing your voice — of course, next to seeing you in person. Oh brother I can hardly wait until the happy, joyful day when you come home to poor lonesome Jane-rabbit, Cinder, Baby-cat & Buster. Won’t we have a scrumptious time though? I can hardly wait & neither can friend — Clit! Oh baby! And to think you’re all mine & nobody else’s! Don’t ever let me down ‘cause I think I’d just wither away & die if I didn’t know my wabbit wasn’t all mine forever.

All my love & kisses.
Jane

P.S. How do you like “our” Christmas cards? I think they’re quite nifty myself.

Monday
18 December 1950
Itami, Japan
130

Dear Jane,

A box of candy, two cans of nuts, a fruit cake came to day. No mail however. Boy all that stuff is really good.

Tomorrow I head off for Kyoto for a 48 hour rest leave. They must figure I’m not very tired. Well, anyway it will be a good deal. 19 of us are going

Keep on sending the goodies. Funny how I get all this in Japan when I was really short on Korea.

By the way, find out if the UA will pay me if I return to school. Seems like there is some kind of dead line that has to be met. You have to start your course before such and such a date. What I want to know is, if I return in two or three years will I be able to get subsistence or will the program be ended? As you can see, the answer to this question may change all my plans.

The only thing I am really certain about is the fact that you are the only one for me. You are the only reason that keeps me a good boy. Funny how a good wife can improve a man’s view on life to say nothing of his morals. Wives are very important. Imagine me believing that now. What strange changes you have made inside of me. All these changes have been for the better. Odd what women can do. You are all strange creatures — but very lovable. You are most necessary to my existence — I’ll be home as soon as I can make the grade. Then there will be a happy time for a long time in our little house — you, Cinder, Buster and Baby-Cat will have lots of excitement.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you,
Mert.

No. 119

Monday
December 18, 1950

Dearest Wiggle Rabbit,

Cinder has become real playful again & she & Baby-cat spend hours rolling & tossing & tumbling together on the floor & that’s what they’re doing now.

I have spent the whole evening madly addressing Xmas cards & writing notes. I wrote Dick Peacocke a note telling him all about you & giving him your address.

My mother thinks it’s real cold up here & naturally keeps complaining about it & keeps the heat turned up real high until I’m now so sleepy I can hardly keep my eyes open & hope you will forgive me if I cut this short before I fall sound asleep.

No mail from my bunny today but I’ll hope for better luck tomorrow. Don’t ever worry about me I’m the truest, bluest pink eared rabbit you’ve ever heard of & I love you like no one else in this whole world. Be a good cheer rabbit.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Tuesday
19 December 1950
Kyoto, Japan
131

Dear Jane,

Today at noon I started a 48 hour rest leave. I’m now in a hotel room at the Miyako Hotel. This is a service rest camp so to speak. We arrived at 3 PM. First we checked in and then we went to the bar for a few drinks. About 19 fellows form the Squadron are here. I’m rooming with a Capt Harry Henneberger from VMF 312. He is a nice fellow. I came up here about 1030 PM to take the first bath. I expect him up a little later if he didn’t go out to some night club. There seems to be a few white women around but they are repulsive. That is hard to believe coming from me but really they don’t hold a candle to you. This life away from you is no good. You get away from a wife so you can sport around but here I am away from you at a famous resort hotel and all I do is pine for you. I don’t even feel like going out and seeing the sights. I can do that tomorrow night if I have more energy. This cold seems to sap all my strength and the pills I take make me very sleepy. It seems that all I do now days is take pills or medicine of some kind. If I had to live outside I know I would never survive.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day because they say this is the town to buy presents in. I drew a hundred dollars. As of the 15^th of December there was ^$678 in the account but I have taken out ^$100 leaving ^$578. By 1 January there should be ^$750 in the account. Pretty good. That will average ^$250 a month.

I don’t what the Squdron will do after the rest leave. I have been bouncing (field carrier plac practice landings) I doubt if we will go on a carrier but you can never tell.

Our hotel room is fairly nice. It is half oriental and half western. By that I mean the floor, for example, is completely covered with straw matting but on top of that are three fairly good sized rugs. The chairs are Japanese but this desk is western. This is kind of hard to describe. The food here was fine — chicken — The hot shower was really good. There are two beds, one double and one single. I’ve got the single iron bed because I lost the toss. The double seems to be the best. How lucky can I be! Well, it is 1210 AM and now I’m going to hit the sack.

I love you more than any one else and don’t ever worry about this rabbit going astray. He loves you too much.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 120

Tuesday
December 19, 1950

Dearest Baby Rabbit,

Oh boy, oh boy 3 big, fat letters from my rabbit’s paw today & one with a real cute drawing of 2 rabbits sitting on a wall looking over the sea to the moon. I didn’t ever know you were so talented! The other 2 said you thought you were moving out of Yonpo soon, back to Itami for which I was very glad because it sounds now as if it were really getting messy in Hungnang. I was real interested in the propaganda pamphlets. If you are back in Japan, I truly wish you would call me sometime so at least I can be close enough to hear your voice. They were real nice letters & just the kind I like.

Today was a rat racy day if I ever saw one & all hell broke loose it seemed to me. Dean Faust was leaving for the week & since Charys left Monday & I’m leaving tomorrow we were really busy — to say the least! I had lunch with my mother. Then, just before Dean Faust left he came out & gave me an envelope with a gift certificate in it for ^$5.⁰⁰ at the Homeware Store in Palo Alto which I thought was very nice. Tonight my mother & I went to dinner at the Swedish place I went once with Ceilie & Kirk & then we went to this Homeware Store & I tried to use the Gift Certificate but found their stock pretty well picked over & decided to wait until after Christmas. After that we went to see Ceilie’s & Kirk‘s house which impressed my mother no end.

As I have said before this was really a busy day so I think I’ll close now. You’re my own baby rabbit though & I just wait & long for your quick return until that wonderful day when we can be together again & love & love & hug & kiss & just be plain folks. Be a happy bunny with your ears up & I’ll be likewise with my ears pointing straight up to the sky.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Wednesday
20 December 1950
Kyoto, Japan
132

Dear Jane,

Today I went shopping early in the morning and bought you a present. I like ist and hope you do too.

Kyoto is just like every other Japanese town. Now that is a word of wisdom. It is also very descriptive, I think.

At the PX I had a steak for lunch it was real good. The PX had nothing of value. The Daimeru department store is really quite good by state-side standards. There was nothing I liked there. Across the street in a little shop I saw your present and got it. I hope you have some thing to go with it.

No luck on Roger’s lens or Jensens fish line yet.

This Hotel (Miyako) is supposed to be the place to find women. But there are none worth while around. So far I have seen only three. They were no good. Nothing will ever cause me to get off the straight and narrow. You are by far the best I’ve seen to-date and further more I’se ain’t lookin. Wonder why I love you so much? This puzzles me no end because there doesn’t seem to be any explanation.

I’ve been down at the bar this afternoon. I figure I better write this before I get out of control. It’s just a bunch of us guys. It is just like and O’Club.

Never fear “pink ears”. This kid is always good. My ears are up as you can see. When I’m with you my ears are really up.

Be as much of a wolfess as you wont when I get home because I can assure you I’ll be a ravenous beast. Bye now lover. I’ll let you know how the evening turns out.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 121

Wednesday
December 20, 1950

Dearest Baby Rabbit,

No mail today for my baby & this was the last chance for me to get a letter from my baby before I leave because tomorrow morning my mother & I are going to drive down to Alhambra. Somehow this trip seems kind of blah without my baby around to plan the trip with & have a good time with. I think I will stay with your folks a couple of nights, & one for sure so that will break this long rather tedious visit with my mother, thank gosh. Tonight, after a hard day (& I do mean hard) at the office I worked cleaning up the house so Grace’s cousin could sleep here a few nights over Christmas while I’m gone. Of course, I finished working at midnight & my mother went to bed about 9:30 after not having done a d— thing all day. Needless to say I’m really bushed tonight!

This noon I took my mother, Ceilie & Patty to Allied Arts for lunch, where I took your mother when she was up here. They all seem to thoroughly enjoy it.

Mrs. Jackson, the woman who teaches the Social Service course brought me a present 10 boxes of chocolate covered cherries. I am giving most of them away as Xmas presents & will send you one. I thought this was one good way to save on Xmas presents.

I’m so sleepy I can hardly write so please excuse me — just remember — I’ll always love just you & never would dream of hurting you.

All my love & xxxx,
Jane

Thursday
21 December 1950
Itami, Japan
133

Dear Jane,

We are back from Kyoto. Last night I never got very far away from the Hotel bar. It seems I barely made it back to my room. Harry Henneberger says I was in a poor condition. I don’t know much about that.

It was a very miserable morning. We took a taxi from Kyoto to Itami. It cost 3000 yen. Three of us split the far. All told both going and coming the transportation cost was a little over ^$2. We got to the base around 1230 PM. It was a bad day so flying was [secured]. So we came out here to The Takarazuka where we live. I went to chow a little while ago, spare ribs and they were pretty good.

A cold is upon me again. Seems I never have gotten rid of that last one. My throat is very sore.

Six letters from you and a fruit cake plus some chocolate cakes. I am flabegasted. The cakes are superb, wonderful, delicious, exquisite, darling, enjoyable, sensational, emotional and really good.

Your letters have really been good. They give me confidence that you love me and that you think of me. It would be awful if all this feeling were only one way. It really is good to have some one who returns your love. It makes you feel good inside and quite happy. I never want any change to come about in our feelings. To know that some one loves you means so very much. Your whole life seems to change and start of on a new course. It may be bumpy at first but once the new course gets set it sure is better than being single.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 122

Thursday
December 21, 1950

Dearest Baby Rabbit,

No mail from my lover ‘wabbit before I left this morning altho there were a couple of Xmas cards & among them one from Jane Curtisa.

God I have the most horrible headache so that I feel positively ill, & am beginning to wonder if my headaches are not migraine or something because I wore my glasses nearly all day. However, I must admit I drove nearly all the way down so maybe it was just the eyestrain. At any rate I feel anything but good so will cut this short. We started about 9 a.m. & made good time until we got to the Ridge Route where there was quite a long bad detour. We stopped for lunch at Paso Robles Inn & cut inland over to US 99 as Dick & Beth had suggested. I think it is a much better route than going all the way down the Coast. But they are doing some extensive widening on the Ridge Route & traffic was very slow as the passage was only one way in some spots. We got home about 7 p.m. & I'm too tired to even eat so think I will close for now & know you will excuse me. Gosh I wish I had a soft, white, baby rabbit’s paw to stroke my forehead, but suppose I must be patient for his return. You must know that I adore you above all else & everyone else & only leave live for my baby’s quick return so we can snuggle in our own little nest again.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oooooooooooooo
(Big, gooey ones too)

Friday
22 December 1950
Itami, Japan
134

Dear Jane,

I forgot to mention in the last letter that the slippers arrived. Thanks a million. I was getting ready to buy some myself. But I do wonder how big you think I am. Of course I don’t know my own shoe size but I never dreamed you would ever figure my hind feet were that monstrous. I’m a small fellow in this world.

This morning I went to Sick Bay about this cold. They ran x50,000 mils of Penecillian into my behind. I was given some vitamin pills, some cough medicine and some nose drops. There seems to be no great change. This is the oddest cold I’ve ever had. It goes away for a day or two then comes back. This see-sawing has been going on for a month now. Apparently damp cold places don’t agree with me.

Our room is now warm. I got a new heater. Any way it was good to get into a warm room and bed at 11 AM. I’ve been in bed reading a Pocket Book called Gale Warning by Hammond Innes. Pretty good book.

I got no chow tonight. The hotel mess hall closed at 6:30 PM because of an Air Force Party. The place usually closes at 7:00 PM. Naturally no notices were posted.

There is no telling where we will go or when.

This rabbit is looking for you. and I suppose you are looking for me It will be a great day when we can sit and touch ears.

I still love you as always. You are the one and only gal for me. I spend most of my time thinking of you and when I do I feel like this:

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 123

Friday
December 22, 1950

Dear Little Baby,

Boy, today was my first real day of vacation & I spent nearly all day in bed & it was lovely to say the least. I called your Mom & Dad this morning & am going to spend the night with them tomorrow night. I called Barbara Shotwell & we chatted for a long time to try & catch up with the gossip. I tried to call Peacocke but found their line disconnected & tonight went up to see what I could find out to learn they have moved to Ventura so I guess I won’t see him this time.

Tonight my mother & I were invited to the McCall’s for dinner & as usual it was very good — but quite dull. God & to think instead of spending my hours with young people I used to spend hours & hours with them & my mother. Good gravy every time I think of it I wonder how I turned out even half as well as I did. It’s a wonder I didn’t really turn out queer-er or at least an old maid. My mother still tried awfully hard to run my life & order me around when I’m with her — but I think slowly but surely she’s getting out of the habit a little bit. However, she still has the big, old martyr complex. I’m glad I’m leaving for Edie’s & Ken’s Tuesday.

Gosh, baby I think of you all the time during these lonely days when everyone else is so unhappy & oblivious of what is going on. I keep wondering what your going to do on Christmas Day, etc. Believe me when I say I’ll always be true to you & love you with all my heart. Your all I’ve got & all I want.

All my love,
Jane

Saturday
23 December 1950
Itami, Japan
135

Dear Jane,

A letter from you today. You tell about the Bachtels. Here’s an idea of what letters of yours are missing: #’s 30, 31, 39, 40, 43, 46, 52, 53, 60, 61, 67, 69, 70, 74, 75, 84, 85, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 103, 104. Today I received #116. Perhaps you now see why I was getting ideas about your letter writing. As you note, there are 25 days missing or practically a month of letters.

My cold is still upon me. I had another pencillion shot, cough medicine, nose drops and some other pills. There is a big party tonight but I’ve decided not to go, so here I sit. I’ve got to get rid of this cold. It is wearing me out. By the way, send me another order of Vicks drops; they do help a little. This Korean bug I have is terrible. What stamina it has!

Today I got a room at the base. I intend to move back tomorrow or the next day. I want to get warm and also be closer to Sick Bay. The long cold trip doesn’t help this cold. Also, I won’t have to get up so early every morning. Also, I can be home with little bus trouble.

Strange how things have changed in this war. Last time I was always borrowing and now I am turned to as the source of funds to carry people through to the end of the month. I do this on ^$75 a month. If you don’t have any dates nor go to any parties your expenses stay down quite well. I’ll bet I’ve said less than 100 words to gals who weren’t maids (house). Do you think I should get back in practice? I bet you do a lot of talking to fellows.

By the way, taxes are up ^$8 a month for me and I don’t see how I can get by on ^$68 a month. I will have to get the details from the Paymaster and see what I’ll have to do.

No idea yet what we will do.

I love you and only you. There never will be another for me because you are the nicest girl in all the world. You are adorable and well worth the restraint I exert on myself.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 124

Saturday
December 23, 1950

Dearest Little Baby,

Well, here I am at your folks new house & it is really nice & I think you would like it. It has a nice living room, dining room, kitchen & breakfast nook, back porch, 3 bedrooms & a lovely tile bath. It is very nice & your mother’s furniture looks nice in the house. They got a new round table with 2 chrome chairs for the breakfast nook & it is very cute.

This morning I got up about 9 a.m. at my mother’s, got dressed & we went to go to pick up Bev Cox & your mother & as I took the car out of the garage & she looked at her white wall tires to find I’d gotten a teeny bit of dirt on one & of course she flew into a fit. Needless to say I was already plenty fed up & told her to “get off my back” & clamed up. She was a little surprised & sort of did quite keep quiet for a while At any rate she’s up to her old tricks of what an ungrateful wrench I am, etc. At any rate I don’t have to listen to that old song & dance much longer & will endeavor to hold my temper until Tuesday morning. Too bad she doesn’t have a man around to knock her ears back when she gets up on her high horse.

Well, we picked up Bev & your mother,& went to Bullock’s-Pasadena for lunch. We met a friend of my mother’s & I took them all to lunch. It was very nice & Bev as usual was fun. My mother & her friend left after lunch & your mother & Bev & I went Christmas shopping. Your mother helped me pick out presents for Karen & Kaye & Edie & Ken. Bev took us back here & we had a real nice dinner & after dinner some of your folk’s neighbors called up & asked them over & Bev & Jim called me up & came & got me & we went to see Laura & Ed Humeney who were at the Business School. We had a real nice visit & they all wanted to be remembered to you.

Gosh rabbit it’s now 12:30 & your Mom & Dad have just come in & I’m real sleepy so guess I’ll close my little eyes & go to bed. Not before I tell you again though how much I love you, how sweet you are & how lucky I am to have you for my own. Always be a good rabbit for my sake, because you’re all I’ve got & my heart would break if you were ever untrue.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Sunday
24 December 1950
Itami, Japan
136

Dear Jane,

This is the saddest night of all. How I miss you and how I wish I were with you. They are having a Christmas eve party. I had to come home I became so sad. The drinks went bad. First I tried a B&B. It was a struggle to sip but I figured they always were. Then I tried a Manhattan. Two sips and I gave it back to the bar tender. I finally downed a Scotch and Soda only because I was too Scotch to throw it away too. They had a floor show but that only depressed me because you were not here. Finally, I came to my room at 1015 PM. I look longingly at your beautiful picture and wish and wish I were at your side loving you.

Where do these terrible longing feelings come from and why? All I can do is sit and think of wonderful little you and sort of cry inside because we are so far apart. It hurts so to dream of our house and our family which we hope to have some day. How can one be happy knowing he has a lovely wife so far away? In my dream you are very lonely for me and want me to return. I can feel you in my arms as we meet. I can see and feel our tears of happiness. I can feel the hugs and I can hear the the sighs of relief that at last we are together. As time goes by I pray for my return to you. Such desire I have never felt before. I can see your hair and eyes. I can feel your soft touch and warm breath. I can feel your heart beat next to mine. Your velvet soft skin is so near yet so far. I suppose this is the ageless lament of a soldier far from home where his his most cherished possessions. I feel that some day I will return and all will be joy and gladness. This depression will pass and only be a long evil memory to shut out of our lives forever.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert.

No. 125

Sunday
December 24, 1950

Dearest Little Rabbitkins,

Oh boy, today I got a cablegram from my baby with a real, sweet message on it & was I ever glad to get it! It was Christmas were you are, but it was the day before Christmas here. I hope you had turkey & all the trimmings — but suppose you would have been lucky if you did. Incidently, did you get the bedroom slippers I sent you for Christmas, & the six boxes & cans of candy & cookies I sent within the last two weeks? If the slippers should be lost don’t feel too badly as I insured them & they were not prohibitively expensive to begin with.

Today we didn’t get up until about 10 a.m. & your mother made waffles & blow upon blow the darn things stuck to the waffle iron so we had to have pancakes instead. They went off to the church & I washed my hair & it was so warm I sat out in the yard & dried it in about an hour. Really, just like summer with not even a tinge of coolness. But somehow it didn’t even seem like Christmas. At 3 o’clock my mother came & got me & we went to an open house at the Planes which was sort of dumbe to say the least, but they’re always that way anyway. Then we went back to your mother’s & had a delicious lamb dinner & lemon pie. After that we went back to my mother’s house & unwrapped our Christmas presents. My mother gave us 8 chrystal goblets, your Mom & Dad gave us a sterling silver salad fork to go with our silver & an apron for me. Edie & Ken gave me a Mexican silver bracelet & ear rings to match that are real pretty, pictures of each of the girls & a little straw Mexican man. Bev & Jim gave me a pair of hose — the kind you got me at Bonwit Tellers. Well — oh yes, Peggy Dermody gave me some real cute pink angora mittens — & there were various other little items too numerous & inconsequential to enumerate — but nice.

I got your mother a 2-qt. Revereware double boiler & I think she was very pleased & your Dad a tie that I think he also liked.

Well, bunny. I’m real sleepy now, so guess I’ll hit the sack as tomorrow there will be lots of things to do with Christmas dinner, etc.

But never fear that I’m not your true, blue Christmas rabbit & I hope you had as merry a Christmas as possible. I felt awfully sad because you weren’t here with me though. Be a good rabbit & I’ll never let you down.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Monday
25 December 1950
Itami, Japan
137

Dear Jane,

How dull Christmas is without you. Believe me I’m home sick and home is where you are.

The Contracts book has not arrived. Do you have the insurance slip? Enclosed are some miscellaneous papers.

Yesterday afternoon I moved from the Takarazuka Hotel to the Base. It is warmer. There is no transportation problem. I’m away from all the fellows who are raising hell like I use to raise in Corpus Christi. Being a reformed sinner I can’t rightly complain. Anyway I like it better here

They had a five Christmas dinner. Turkey yet! And all the trimmings! It was real good. We had cold turkey tonight.

Today I puttered around the room straightening out my gear. Quite a job and I am only half way through.

This surely doesn’t seem like Christmas to me. How I wish I were with you. I miss you more and more. The pressure is getting unbearable. Baby you really have your hook in me. Some times I’m sure you have me wrapped around your little finger. I dream about you many, many times a day. Some day not too distant we will be together and “pink ears” look out — or be prepared — or the wolf and the wolfess will meet. Oh, man.

Today a box of cigars arrived which Dad sent. Right at present I’m doing ok on the cigars. I am eagerly expecting a lot of mail from you some time soon. I expect them to deliver all those back letters.

Tomorrow is another day. It seems nothing much has been happening. I’ve run out of news but I’ll never run out of love.

You are the only gal I love or ever will love. I’m true and faithful. I secretly pride myself on being such a good kid. I love you so very much I could never hurt you and I think that chasing around would hurt you as I know it would hurt me if you were to chase around. Somehow I feel that if I can go without dates so can you. If I can go with out sex so can you.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 126

Monday
December 25, 1950

Merry Christmas to a big fluffy Christmas rabbit,

Today is Christmas & I’ve been going all day like a buzz-saw so will sort of make this a short letter. This morning we got up about 9 o’clock & began getting the Christmas dinner & worked all day until the guests came at 5 p.m. Your folks came & the McCalls & 2 friends of my mother’s. We had a real nice turkey dinner & sat around & talked all evening until about 10:30 p.m. when the guests left & I packed so I’d be all ready tomorrow morning when we left at 5:30 a.m. as that is the time we have to leave to get to the airport by the 7 a.m. take-off. Needless to say I’m real sleepy so hope you will excuse me if I cut this short so I can get a few hours sleep.

I love you most of anything in this whole world & don’t ever forget it for one minute — because it’s the truth.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Tuesday
26 December 1950
Itami, Japan
138

Dear Jane,

Two letters from you today! #’s 117 and 118. I think our Christmas cards are quite nice. Ah, so, heart attacks right at the beginning of Christmas vacation. No originality to that at all. I suppose that will happen forever with assistance who-ever they may be. Before you get P O’d at your assistance be sure you investigate yourself and see that you have done everything to elicit cooperation. This is just a suggestion but since everyone goes off half-cocked now and then don’t feel as though I am criticising you. For my money you are perfect.

Ah, your mother and you are getting on well I see. Well, I’m on your side because your mine. I can’t bother myself about who is right and who is wrong in your sub-rosa-fued. But as I say, you are my possession and I want you just as you are. I know that you are doing the best you can in your situation. All this started way before I met you but and I want no part of it, but always remember, any old time you can come to me and I will hold you in my arms and just love you as you are.

Don’t you have the wounded ego though about those boullion cubes? One night I had some soup and just thought I would like some. That’s all there is to that. The idea just entered my head so how you could know about them it. How was I to know that asking for boullion cubes would bring the screech of the wild goose out of you? Well, young one, just calm down, your still my loved one so let’s not have a buillion cube come between us.

Tomorrow I will write in detail what has been going through my head about the ^$300. Frankly, Los Altos is the best of possible places to be in a big war except when enemy troops are descending in the place. In the event of a big stampede the amount of money we have would amount to nothing, thousands of dollars wouldn’t you get very far. Where would you go and once there you would be worse off. I will write more on this subject later.

I love you and only you. I’m true blue and all yours, never fear, you got a good hold on me and I like it.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

P.S. Forgot to enclose that stuff yesterday but here it is.

No. 127

Tuesday
December 26, 1950

Dearest Little Rabbit,

Boy, oh boy this morning we got up at 4:30 a.m. on the nose & after my mother had dilly-dallied around we didn’t leave her house until 5:45 a.m. so I drove like the wind & we got to the airport about 6:45. I just had time to get my baggage checked & flew onto the plane, altho I did have to wait about 10 minutes before the plane took off. But I got off O.K. & had a delicious breakfast. When we got to Tucson we landed & I knew I had to change my watch so instead of turning it forward I set it back! I thought we were coming into Clovis, N.M. looked out of the window to see “El Paso” on the control tower! I leaped out of my seat, grabbed my hat & got off the plane. All the time I thought it was 10:30 a.m. when it was really 12:30 p.m., the time we were supposed to land! God, have you ever heard of such a gooney thing in your whole life? At least I had a good life laugh out of my gross inefficiency.

At any rate all the Kenerick’s were at the airport to meet me & to say the least I received a most cordial welcome. We dropped Ken off at his office & Edie & the girls & I went to the “O” club for lunch. Then we went on some errands Edie had to do & home. They have a very nice home for El Paso, but believe me, when I say I was shocked at El Paso as it is so very frontierish & so border-townish. Nothing but sage-brush & sand & rocks.

They went to Ken’s battalion for Christmas dinner so we had the Christmas dinner tonight — big, thick, juicy, individual T-bone steaks & French fries.

In the evening one of Ken’s helpers & his wife (a major) came over & we played Tripoley until about 11 p.m. I came out second high.

Boy oh boy, today I got 4 letters from my baby-wabbit that Grace forwarded to me. Also she forwarded a note from Isabelle Wallace which said they were giving us Life magazine for the next year for Christmas. Needless to say, this pleased me very much as you know how I like Life. Incidently, don’t forget to get that camera gimmick for Roger if you can; also the silk fishing line for Bill Jensen, the butcher. Also camera stuff for yourself.

I think you are the world’s worst tease because you said in one of your letters that I didn’t like the sweet, love letters you write me, & that makes me positively furious. They are undoubtedly the sweetest, nicest, most wonderful love letters I’ve ever read in my whole life — in poetry or collections or otherwise. No one could ever hope to get ones that were any nicer — so please don’t tease me & tell me that I don’t like them because I do-do-do-do!!!!! Your just an old, mean thing! Don’t stop writing them either.

I was certainly glad to hear you were back at Itami. I do hope, however, that you won’t worry too much about a Xmas present for me. Tonight Edie & I were talking about the things you might be able to get in Japan. I am enclosing samples of some brocade Edie has gotten from Japan & some of which I wouldn’t mind having about 5 yards of. I would prefer some kind of blue or purple, if possible, so I could make an evening skirt. She says it’s about ^$2.⁷⁵ a yard in Japan but about ^$10.⁰⁰ a yard here. Also, you sent Kaye a kimono last time you were there of a sort of cotton & I wouldn’t mind having an INEXPENSIVE kimono to just wear around the hOUSE & some slippers (also inexpensive). Please don’t spend very much on either if you can or will get them. Then, if it is at all possible which none of us think it is — I wouldn’t mind a nest of carved tables. Edie & your mother both have them & they are 4 tables in the nest. Quite frankly I doubt if you would send these.

All of the above are merely suggestions & would just be nice to have but NOT essential or necessary.

I read Edie & Ken some of the excerpts from your letters & we got a huge bang out of your description of the shower, toilet seat & bar — bar — bar! We were also interested in your description of the Marine pilot unloading the wounded & how grateful they were. You said one can of cookies was all broken into little pieces & did I do it on purpose! God, man what kind of a fiend do you think I am if I deliberately broke up the cookies after spending a long time making them? Were they the Toll House ones? I think they are crumbly.

Needless to say I’m dead tired so will close, but I love you most of anything in this whole world & always will. Your all my little rabbit & I’m all yours.

All my love & kisses & hugs,
Jane

Wednesday
27 December 1950
Itami, Japan
139

Dear Jane,

Three letters from you — 119, 120 and 121. Boy, letters from you are the most important thing there is for me.

Today I got ungrounded. My cold is finally [whizzed]. I spent the day doing odd jobs such as getting a heater, clothes to the cleaners and I got a tooth filled. Tomorrow I have an appointment to get another one filled. These are the same ones I had fixed temporarily several months ago.

Tomorrow I bounce some more. There is still no word on what we are going to do. One can only guess. I suppose we will go back to Korea.

The weather has been fine. Not too cold and not too hot. What a contrast this is from Korea.

I am still mulling over in my mind what would be the best course of action in the use of our money. I gave up the camera idea. Too expensive and we need other things worse. Of course, it would be a nice hobby but then there are more important things. In a few days I’ll send a letter out lining my plans. I know you will agree. I just know your nature, that is all. At any rate, we will have to act in the next few weeks or never or rather not for a long, long time to come.

Be a good rabbit and a cheerful rabbit. I’ll bet you are all tired out from your big travels. You will have to rest up some more. I hope your trip broke the monotony.

I love you as I have never loved before and I like it this way. I never want to be free from you. I am stuck to you for-ever. I have been, am and will be the best rabbit that ever lived. I’m this way just for you.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 128

Wednesday
December 27, 1950

Dear Little Baby Rabbit

This morning Edie had a breakfast-coffee for about 20 gal friends of hers. It was very nice & we had a real good time. It lasted until about noon. Then the girls went to a show & Edie & I went down town & came home & collapsed. She sewed & I just sat & talked to her. Then at p.m. Ken & Edie & I went to a tea dance at Ft. Bliss given in honor of the Queen of the Sun Carnival & her princesses. It was very nice & it was lots of fun. Edie & I played the slot machines & won about 30 cents apiece besides the original $1 we put in. Not bad, eh what? We got a machine that just keep kept paying & paying, but finally even we got tired & so we stopped playing when we were about 30¢ apiece to the good.

We had hamburgers at the “O” club & got home about 9 p.m. It was a real nice day & we had a real good time.

But, baby rabbit nothing is really fun without my bunny around & I just keep wishing & wishing you were with me. It just seems a pity to be taking this nice trip & not to have any little baby with me to see all the sites. It’s fun but not too much fun without you. All I want is my little baby to hurry home to me so we can be together again. Be a good baby always & I’ll never let you down because I just couldn’t be anything but a good bunny.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Thursday
28 December 1950
Itami, Japan
140

Dear Jane,

Nothing new today. Same old grind. Sure wish I were with you. We could go right to work on our five kids. Jr. is really an eager beaver but only for clit. Boy, won’t it be a great day — and night for us. Perhaps it will kill us but oh, what a way to die! Death in the saddle. What could be more desirable?

I’ve decided to send you ^x500 for buying house hold gear. Let us get one job done completely. Let’s get all the gear we need now and later we won’t have to worry or scrounge so much. I think I will be in the Service for quite some time to come. How long, no one knows. Let’s hope it is not too long.

Of course, when I get home we are going to start on a family within a few minutes after I get indoors. Let’s hope Clit’s isn’t around. Wouldn’t that be terrible?

We are still hanging around. There is nothing to report. We don’t know where we are going or when if ever. I took the clock in to get it repaired. The shop is just outside the gate. Seems like it stopped running. It must be dirty or something.

This room is quite warm. The electric heater I have makes all the difference in the world but then the weather outside has been quite warm also. The O’Club is my hang-out. Funny how every time I get here the O’Club is my stumbling block.

Well, be a good, good rabbit and I will be the same.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 129

Thursday
December 28, 1950

Dearest Baby,

We have just come home from a big day at Juarez & so I’m writing you because tonight we are going to the Coronation Ball of the Sun Carnival Queen & will no doubt be out late. It is supposed to be the cats p.j’s & we got a box seat because Ken is the liaison officer between Ft. Bliss & the town on the Sun Carnival.

About 11 a.m. Edie & the girls & I went to Juarez & first to the City Market where we bought various & sundry small items — a pair of huarachas to wear around the house at ^$1.75, a woven basket to put my sewing in at ^$1.50, 8 of those blue Mexican glasses at 10¢ each or 80¢ & a picture at 25¢, some (8) tiles for hot dishes or inlay at 15¢ each or ^$1.20 & one for Edie at 45¢, a box for Karen at 35¢, some nick nacks for Kaye at 45¢, some tiny dishes for Judy Aced at 20¢ & that’s all.

After we did all our shopping we went to a restaurant called the Rio Grande & had the most, delicious, tender, steak dinner for 75¢ each & boy was it good!

Guess I’ll finish this later as I should iron my formal now.

Later

Well, we just came home from the Coronation Ball & it was quite something. They had about 20 Princesses, 8 Duchesses & a Queen. The princesses were in light pink net bouffant gowns, the duchesses in American Beauty & the Queen, of course in white. We all agreed, however they were not the prettiest girls we’d ever seen but just fairly pretty girls. A few were striking but not too many. First, they presented all the gals, then crowned the Queen, then they had a program put on by some Hollywood company that was quite corny. Then they had dancing; Edie & I shared Ken, & we left about 12 p.m. For El Paso I suppose it was a pretty good show.

Well, baby bunny I’m awfully sleepy & tired, needless to say & think I’ll hit the hay now.

Don’t forget how much I love you & how precious & sweet you are to me. And, above all don’t forget to always be a good sweet rabbit — because I always am & always will be.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Friday
29 December 1950
Itami, Japan
141

Dear Jane,

Seems like the same old thing again today. I bounced two periods and it went off well. There was one letter from you. That is always good. Those back letters are still missing.

I have been made Squadron Legal Officer. This will probably mean more of something to do. There really isn’t much to the job. There is very little trouble in our Squadron and naturally that cuts down on the work. The weather has been fine. By fine I mean it hasn’t been too cold. If it’s not too cold the weather really is ok. There has been some rain, plenty of haze and smoke.

I wonder how you are making out on your trip. I hope you have fun and get plenty of rest.

How come you have all of a sudden been getting headaches? Have you turned to drinking and now have hangovers?

I love you more than ever “Pink Ears”. You are the only one in all the world for me. There never could be anyone else. Never could a rabbit be truer and more faithful than I. I think even you would be embarrassed if you knew how much I truly love you. Also, I know you would be much afraid if you knew my dreams about getting home and really relieving Jr. I don’t care if we both die and if you come through the ordeal with only a few black and blue marks and torn clothes consider your self lucky. I do believe this wolf-rabbit will tear your clothes off of you. I’ll grab you, throw you down, tear the clothes off and thump you before you can say “hello.” The first order of business is a good fast thumping and then we can say hello and talk. Ahwoo ooo woo ah o o o. My ears are straight up and that’s not all.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert.

No. 130

El Paso, Texas
Friday
December 29, 1950

Dear Little Rabbit,

Oh boy, today Grace forwarded me two letters letters from you! Nos. 128 & 129. But god, bunny, you take me so seriously when I say I don’t think you’d have anything to talk about if you didn’t write about money. I don’t mean you can’t ever say anything about it — I just mean I don’t like it in EVERY letter. As a matter of fact I’ve been wondering what you’re going to do now you can get to a paymaster. Don’t forget to put in for my travel pay now you have a chance & before you forget! Also I have been meaning to ask whether you think it at all feasible that we get a new car. Everyone here thinks soon they will be off the market, & believe me our car is not getting any better. I would be willing if you think it advisable to put all or part of my allotment toward a car instead of furniture because I feel furniture would always more or less be on the market but not cars. I am very glad we have the washing machine. I am SERIOUS about my proposal. What are your ideas on the subject???? I asked your Dad what he thought & he said YOU ought to give it serious consideration. Perhaps he has already written you about it as we talked about it when I was there & I just have forgotten to tell you about it. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOUR plans are on the financial side now.

Boy, oh boy today was a terrific tiring day & busy as heck. Edie & I went to a coffee at Biggs Field from 9:30-11 a.m. Then we went to the “O” club at Ft. Bliss to put a last few nickels in the slot machine as they all have to be gone in Texas by midnight tonight. Then a friend of Edie’s named Phyllis who used to be in Hawaii had a luncheon at the Airport Café which was very nice & lasted until about 2:30. Edie & I stopped by to see Ceilie McFarland’s folks who live here but they weren’t home. After dinner Kaye was dying to go to a carnival in connection with the Sun Carnival so we went. They went on the Ferris Wheel etc. & ate cotton candy. It was very, very cold so we didn’t stay too long — thank gosh!

After all the running around today I’m nigh onto dead so will hit the hay now.

Your the only little Bunny I love & always will. Life just isn’t complete for me without you so don’t ever think that I’ll not always be true to you alone — because I’m a true blue bunny — other men just aren’t even interesting to me.

All my loving kisses,
Jane

Saturday
30 December 1950
Itami, Japan
142

Dear Jane,

Enclosed are five money orders of ^$100 each making a total of ^$500.

The way I look at the over-all world situation indicates that to delay for many weeks longer the purchase of items made in critical industries would only mean that we would not have these items for an indeterminable number of future years.

Secondly, I think our present income will also exist for more than one year to come.

Thirdly, in the face of any serious crises where you are any amount we could save would not be a drop in an exceptionally large buckets. Money would be around in excess quantities which would mean that ^$1000 or ^$2000 might not get you fifty miles away nor would it keep you in shelter and food for much over a month. Those who come off best in such an event are those who remain calm and stay where they are. A friend of my father’s lost many thousands of dollars when he panicked right after Pearl Harbor. On the other hand a Chinese friend of my father’s bought land and houses of fractions of there real value. Also, Los Altos is as free as one could ever get from any kind of bombing. We have destroyed as many houses in remote areas as we destroyed in congested areas. And lastly, you have a place to stay a job to do and a community of which you are a group member. Membership in a community is vital because it will organize to survive. Refugees will be treated last and a refugee woman is really a lost woman. I have seen many refugees on many roads. Some go north, some south, and others are just wandering. Warfare now is such that you can not flee. Believe me, there is no place to go. Where you are, the school knows you, the butcher, the baker, the groser, the neighbors. To become a refugee is to lose all your material wealth and then to survive your morals disintegrate. Since Los Altos is in an out of the way place you will be needed in the community to organize and work to aid those in need of assistance. Whether you believe it our not you have reached an age where you can’t run to your mother, my parents, Uncle Mark but on the contrary because of their age they will inevitably turn to you for what direction you may give. The very young and the old in a family will seek the young and the strong.

Fourthly, the items of value as years go by will be the ones I think we should get now. These items will retain their value and cash will lose its value. In Korea money means little; it is your physical possessions which have value.

Thus, we come to the ^$500. I suggest that you use it to buy mechanical devices. (1) sewing machine (2) vacuum (3) Electric mixer (4) Dish washer (5) Refrigerater To get all these things you may have to use your ^$200 allotment. Don’t pay off the debts this month. Thus, as I see it you will be able to put close to ^$700 in Mechanical Devices. To aid you, use consumer research. Buy the best you can. On the ice box get one that will be large enough to last us many, many years. All of these purchases must be based on the idea that we are to keep them for twenty years. Thus, if it crowds our little house don’t worry because there will be a larger house some day. Plan ahead as you always have. Buy for the future and not just the present.

I am aware that you have many questions but do not look to me for guidance. I’m too far away and time is important. Make your own decisions and remember that you are buying mainly for the future.

Just as an a rough idea I suppose an ice box runs from ^$300-^$400 but this is only my guess. Get a good one and one that is big enough. But if you can’t get all the mechanical devices make your own decision as to what to do. Maybe ^$700 isn’t enough. Maybe there are no devices available. All I ask is that you have a reason for what you do.

Let me know what you do and why. Act and act soon.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you
Mert

No. 131

Saturday
December 30, 1950

Dear Rabbit’s Pants,

Well, guess what? Kaye woke up with the mumps today — on one side only & not very bad — but still they are the mumps. Fortunately, Ken & I have had them, but neither Edie nor Karen have, so Ken & I are the ones who give Kaye, the most attention as the others don’t want to get near her. I don’t think she feels too badly yet.

Today was our stay-at-home day on account of Kaye & there were no parties on. This morning we took Kaye to the dispensary at Bliss to get an official diagnosis & some pills & this afternoon we just sat around gabbing. Tonight we all played Canasta as Kaye was dying for a game.

This visit has been very, very nice & I’m sorry to see it draw to a close. All of Edie’s friends have been very nice to me & very cordial. But, I would never want to live permanently in El Paso. It is very, very dry & desertlike & my skin is all chapped & scaling as everyone says there’s soon does after they’ve lived there for awhile. They haven’t had any rain for 85 days which is supposed to be very unusual even in the winter for El Paso. No one has a green lawn, there are all dry & burned & there are only a few evergreen shrubs to break the monotony of the dry landscape. Really quite unusual if I do say so myself. Calif. will really look like an oasis after this.

Gosh, rabbit, I’m awfully sleepy, so I think I’ll go to bed now. Please don’t take me seriously when I kid you about your incessant drivel on the financial end cause I’m really interested in any new plan(s) you’ve cooked up. What do you think about a car? Don’t ever stop telling me you love me either because that keeps me going. You must know now very much how I love you by now. You’re life itself to me.

All my love & kisses,
Jane

Sunday
31 December 1950
Itami, Japan
143

Dear Jane,

Here it is the day before New Year’s. How I wish I were with you.

I didn’t get up until 12 PM. We have today and tomorrow off. Did you know that the 48 hours I had off a while back was the first time off I’ve had since August the 15^th 1950? Today and tomorrow are the 3rd and 4^th days off. The 7 day work week is quite the thing. You can never tell one day from the next.

I saw that 2nd Lt who shot a man a while back. The trial is over and he was convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. Drunkenness and Conduct, Prejudice to Good Order and Discipline. It sure is odd what fate has in store for some people. How can all these things be explained or are they explainable? The sentence is not yet known. It sure is a tough break for everyone.

Tuesday I’m going to send Dad ^$74.85. That is ^$14.85 interest on the ^$660 and ^$60 to reduce the principle. We will then owe him ^$600.

By the time you get this letter you probably will be working like mad getting the stuff for the house. I hope you follow my suggestion and get all mechanical things. Other house hold items will be on the market for some time to come.

This lover rabbit is very good and very sad because he is not with you. Boy how I miss you and how I love you. It is really hard to understand such a feeling.

Be a good rabbit, a sweet rabbit and a pure rabbit.

Believe in my and trust in me and I will believe in you and trust in you.
Mert

No. 132

Sunday
December 31, 1950

Dear Little Baby,

Well it’s 2:30 a.m. & I have to get up at 7 a.m. to catch the plane, but I have to write my baby — however, short the letter is or how tired I am.

Today was some day! We didn’t get up until about 10 a.m. & had dinner about 1 p.m. Incidently, Kaye kept most everyone awake 2 or 3 times last night because the mumps hurt her so. Anyhoo, about 3 o’clock this afternoon Edie & Ken & I started celebrating the New Year because we went to a big reception given by the Queen of the Sun Carnival. It was at the El Paso Country Club about 8 miles out of town & a veritable oasis for dry, burned El Paso. It was beautifully decorated with bowers & bowers of baby orchids from Hawaii, camellia plants & greenery. There was a long reception line of about 60 people to go through, but happily they had waiters who practically greeted you at the door with a glass of champagne. As a matter of fact from that moment on our glasses were never empty. There seemed to be thousands of waiters & there was always one nearby to fill up your glass immediately. At any rate all in all the reception was quite a howling success to say the least.

After the reception we went home, had a bit to eat, got gussied up in our formals & skipped off to the “O” club for the New Year’s Eve party. I guess it was a good party but it was so ghastly & lonesome without you that I didn’t have any fun at all! Edie & Ken didn’t know anyone else whose name had been drawn to go as there wasn’t enuf room for all who wanted to attend, so it was just Edie & Ken & I — & believe me it was really ghastly & lonesome without you & I do mean gruesome. Believe me! All I kept doing was wondering what you were doing & wishing you were with me & we could celebrate together. It was so lonesome I didn’t even drink very much at the Club — only a couple of real weak ones.

Gosh, bunny, I don’t see why we can’t be together. It’s so darn lonesome I don’t I sometimes cry & cry just when I think about you & how much I love you. Am fully sleepy now —

All my loving kisses,
Jane